Royals stadium proposal

Some legislators in both chambers objected to the move since the House unexpectedly failed to pass the part of the budget funding capital improvement projects across the state last week.

Under the plan from Gov. Mike Kehoe, the state would help pay up to half the cost of a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals and a refurbished Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs, though the overall cost was not clear. Mayor Quinton Lucas said Kansas City "strongly supports the legislation."

The tentative plan would commit Missouri to paying $15 million a year to a newly created Clay County sports authority for the two decades. That money would be used to help finance a new stadium in order to prevent the Royals from moving to Kansas.

After voters overwhelmingly rejected the stadium sales tax last year, Jackson County and Missouri officials are struggling to coordinate on a plan to stop the teams from moving to Kansas. The only viable stadium bill now centers around Clay County.

Jackson County legislator Sean Smith, who along with a handful of local lawmakers met with Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe last week, says it's essential for the county to "straighten out the property tax debacles" if it wants voters to pass a future stadium sales tax measure to keep the teams in town.

Elected officials from Jackson County will travel to the state Capitol this week to meet with legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Kehoe about stadium funding ideas. Meanwhile, Clay County is working to establish its own sports complex authority.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas denied he was involved in a poll seemingly designed to undermine North Kansas City's chances at landing a new Royals baseball stadium. However, newly obtained records show his re-election campaign requested it.

Two factions within the Jackson County Legislature risk losing federal relief funds because they can’t agree on how to spend them. It’s the latest point of contention in a consistently difficult relationship between legislators and the county executive.

Johnson County has until the end of the year to spend $6 million of federal COVID relief funds that were originally bookmarked for a Lenexa homeless shelter. Johnson County Commission chair Mike Kelly wants that money to still go towards housing solutions.

Two specific sites in Overland Park have been mentioned as possible landing places for a new baseball stadium. The Royals have been courted by Kansas after Kansas City voters rejected funding for a downtown ballpark — but the team hasn't actually provided plans yet.

Of Missouri's statewide elections this fall, polls show the race for governor is the closest. But Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe had a commanding 10% lead over Democratic state Rep. Crystal Quade, and the state hasn't elected a Democratic governor since 2012.

Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Democratic House Leader Crystal Quade are facing off to be Missouri’s next governor, along with third-party candidates Bill Slantz and Paul Lehmann. Here’s where they stand on the major issues in Missouri, including abortion rights, tax cuts, child care and guns.